Alvin L. Jacobson

Alvin L. Jacobson, 83, Bismarck, formerly of Williston, died October 15, 2016, at CHI St. Alexius Health Bismarck after a long battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 10:00 AM at Zion Lutheran Church in Bismarck with Rev. Thomas R. Marcis, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5:00 – 9:00 PM at Eastgate Funeral Service where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue on Thursday one hour prior to the service at the church. Alvin was born on July 9, 1933, in Kenaston, ND, to Albert and Marie (Dahl) Jacobson. The family moved to Niobe, ND, where Alvin attended grade school through the 8th grade. They then moved to White Earth, ND, where he attended high school until 10th grade. He received his GED while working. The family later moved to Northgate, ND. It was there where he met his future wife, Eunice Tafelmeyer. Alvin started working for the railroad at age 16 where he worked for approximately two years. He then began working in the oilfield at age 18 and then was hired by Amerada Petroleum, later known as Amerada Hess. He started in the warehouse and then was promoted to office clerk. After several years, the superintendent of Amerada Hess promoted him to District Safety Supervisor. He was in this position until he retired in 1994. He was employed for 41 years. Alvin took pride in his job because there were no “lost time accidents” while he was the District Safety Supervisor. Alvin married Eunice Grace Tafelmeyer on July 18, 1954 in Flaxton, ND. They were married for 62 years. In his spare time, Alvin farmed and ranched staring in 1973. He had a passion for raising registered quarter horses for barrel racing and working ranch horses. He also raised registered cattle. Alvin is survived by his wife, Eunice G. of Bismarck; his daughter, Barbara M. (Stephen) Reski of Austin, TX, and Heather (Jay) Jacobson-Bauer of Sterling; his sons, Rodney Paul (Colleen) Jacobson of Billings, MT, Duane Albert (Judy) Jacobson of Watford City, ND, and Mark Alvin (Heidi) Jacobson of Gillette, WY; his brother, Alex Jacobson of San Diego, CA; eighteen grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Kenny Jacobson; and his sisters, Edith (Jacobson) Heglund, Myrtle (Jacobson) Lumley, and Ellen (Jacobson) Dahlien. One of Alvin's favorite quips...“If I don’t see you in the future, I’ll see you in the pasture.” Go to www.eastgatefuneral.com to share memories of Alvin and to sign the online guestbook.